PARTS OF A ROCKETS

The body of the rocket is a green cardboard tube with black fins attached to the
rear. The fins can be made of plastic or balsa wood and are used to provide
stability during flight. Model rockets use small, prepackaged solid fuel engines. The
engine is used only once and then replaced with a new engine for the next flight.
Engine thrust is transmitted to the rocket body through the engine mount. This part
is attached to the rocket and can be made of thick cardboard or wood. There is a
hole through the motor mount to allow the motor ejection charge to pressurize the
body tube at the end of the inertia phase and eject the nose cone and recovery
system. The recovery wadding is inserted between the engine mount and the
recovery system to prevent hot gas from the ejection charge from damaging the
recovery system. The recovery system consists of a parachute (or a streamer) and
some lines to connect the parachute to the nose cone. Parachutes and streamers
are made of thin sheets of plastic. The nose cone can be made of balsa wood or
plastic, and can be solid or hollow. The nose cone is inserted into the body tube
before the flight. An elastic shock cord is connected to both the body tube and the
nose cone and is used to hold all parts of the rocket together during recovery.
Launch lugs are small tubes (straws) attached to the body tube. The launch rail is
inserted through these tubes to provide stability to the rocket during launch.